This exceptional and very rare Italian late 19th century Sorrento ware olive wood reversible chess board tray is the best I have ever seen.
The large tray has hinged, reversible wooden handles that swivel from one side to the other, offering a large, very fine Sorrento ware marquetry drinks tray on one side which has a large panoramic central panel with marquetry figures depicting couples celebrating and dancing together.
The fine marquetry panel is surrounded with an intricate inlaid boarder with a broad cross banded surround, which is finished with a raised and moulded edge.
When the tray is turned over and the handles reversed, the opposite side has a large inlaid chequered chessboard with a plain space to each side for opponent’s pieces taken in a tournament.
The chess set is completed with a rare early 20th century solid bronze novelty chess set which is in a form taken from Roman Italy with an emperor and empress, classical horses, standard bearers, Roman towers and
...foot soldiers.
The one half of this decorative chess set is patinated bronze and the other gilt bronze.
The pieces are of a good, large size and have a very tactile weight in the hand. They are in very good condition with some wear and age related patina.
In total, the solid bronze chess set weighs nearly 8kg
The chess set is of a slightly later date, Italian, circa 1930, and it works very well with the fine Sorrento ware board, which dates to circa 1880.
The size of the Sorrento ware tray:
Height 8.5cm x width 58cm x depth 45cm
The size of the Queen Chess piece: Height 11.7cm x width 3.3cm x depth 3.3cm
Before making a purchase, please contact us for a shipping quote
Robert Belcher Antiques was established in 1984 and is a high-quality retailer of interesting, rare antiques and decorative objects. After forty years of shop keeping and maintaining beautiful showrooms, which have been regularly open six days a week, Robert and Wendy have now taken a slightly different approach to their business. Having sold their retail premises, the antique business is now fully online. The picture framing service has ceased to operate because of moving online.
You can contact Robert and Wendy by email or telephone to discuss items from their extensive catalogue of attractive pieces and make purchases. Customers can rest assured that the long-established dealership is continuing to run in an exceedingly professional way, selling genuine and high-quality items which are guaranteed to please the most discerning collector, decorator or homeowner.
All items will be personally hand packaged to a high standard. Small items are extensively wrapped using the best materials and are often double boxed. Items are then shipped with DHL or Royal Mail fully insured and often with next day delivery. Larger items would be personally delivered or sent with a specialist antique delivery firm, or for outside the U.K, a professional shipping company.
Please enjoy viewing their collection of rare and interesting pieces and have the assurance that Robert and Wendy will do their utmost to make sure your experience is exceptional, as has been recognised by many customers who have bought with confidence regularly over the years.
Contact details
Email: robertbelcherantiques@gmail.com
Telephone: 01905 622468
Mobile 07929 011224
07720 607007
Website: https://www.robertbelcherantiques.co.uk
Instagram: robertbelcherantiques
Antique ID Number (AIDN): SA1211836
Dateline of this antique is 1880
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